Thanksgiving will start early in Port Angeles and Port Townsend with two community meals planned Wednesday.

Other free community feasts throughout the North Olympic Peninsula are set for Thursday.

Wednesday meals

Wednesday's meals, free and open to the public, are set at the Salvation Army in Port Angeles and at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Port Townsend.

The Salvation Army, at 206 S. Peabody St., Port Angeles, traditionally hosts its public meal on Thanksgiving Eve to allow diners to have another hot meal on Thanksgiving Day, for those who otherwise might not have a feast and to give those who also have family or friends in the area to spend Thanksgiving with loved ones.

And the organization will have plenty on hand for the 200 people expected at the holiday meal.

It put out a call last Sunday through the Peninsula Daily News and KONP radio for donations, saying it had no turkeys on hand for the Thanksgiving meal.

As of Wednesday, it had received more than 70 turkeys and hams, as well as a few chickens, according to Major Scott Ramsey.

Wednesday's feast with all the trimmings will be from noon to 4 p.m. at the Salvation Army.

Volunteers are welcome to help with the meal.

For more information, phone 360-452-7679.

The special free meal at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 1020 Jefferson St., Port Townsend, takes the place of its regular Wednesday soup service.

It will be from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will feature turkey and all the trimmings.

Linda McKenzie, organizer and cook, expects 100 to 125 people at the dinner, the church's fourth.

For more information, phone 360-385-0770.

Thanksgiving Day

On Thanksgiving Day, a plethora of public feasts are planned on the Peninsula:

PORT ANGELES

Queen of Angels

PORT ANGELES — The sixth annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner will be served in the Queen of Angels gym, 209 W. 11th St., from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Doors will open for the traditional Thanksgiving meal at 11 a.m.

The dinner is free and open to the public.

Attendees will receive a gift ticket when they enter and can select an item from a gift table at the event. Coats, hats and gloves will be distributed to the needy.

A visit from Santa Claus is set for noon to 2 p.m.

Volunteers are needed to help with the meal, and donations of food, gifts and coats, hats and gloves are sought.

For more information, phone organizer Reath Ellefson at 360-460-3558.

SEQUIM

Thanksgiving RSVPs

SEQUIM — A Thanksgiving dinner will be served at Trinity United Methodist Church, 100 S. Blake Ave., at 4 p.m.

The meal will include turkey, dressing, vegetables, salads, cranberries, desserts and beverages.

Reservations are requested to ensure enough food is prepared and may be made by phoning the church at 360-683-5367 between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. the Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday before the dinner or by email to dinners@sequimtumc.org.

The church normally presents free community dinners on the last Thursday of each month, but because of the Christmas season, no dinner is planned in December.